August 10, 2020
The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Charles E. Schumer Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader Room S-230, U.S. Capitol Room S-221, U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Richard Shelby The Honorable Patrick Leahy Chairman Vice Chairman Senate Appropriations Committee Senate Appropriations Committee Room S-128, U.S. Capitol Room S-128, U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510
Dear Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Chairman Shelby, and Vice Chairman Leahy:
As Congress considers additional relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we urge you to prioritize nutrition programs for older adults. Specifically, we request that the next COVID-19 relief package include $1.1 billion in funding for Older Americans Act (OAA) programs, including $750 million for OAA Nutrition Services, which critically support the delivery of nutritious meals to older adults throughout the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately impacting older adults. With the closure of congregate meal sites and the steep increase in newly homebound older adults, there is now a higher demand for OAA Programs, such as Home Delivered Meals and other community-based supportive services. According to the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a), 93 percent of Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) have reported serving more clients since the pandemic began, and 69 percent of AAAs saw an increase in demand for their supportive services. In addition, Meals on Wheels America members are serving an average of 77 percent more meals to 47 percent more seniors since March, with virtually all programs having seen the cost of providing services increase. According to n4a, AAAs reported a 52 percent increase in demand for their caregiver support programs, a 32 percent increase in demand for the Long- Term Care Ombudsman program, and an 84 percent increase in demand for telephone wellness checks, which may be the only form of contact for socially isolated, homebound older adults.
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act were important first steps in responding to the increased demand for OAA programs, but additional funding is needed to continue providing vital services to seniors across the country. Even prior to the pandemic, an estimated 5.3 million (more than 7 percent) older adults experienced food insecurity and more than 17.4 million (24 percent) lived alone, putting them at greater risk of being socially isolated and/or lonely. In addition, COVID- 19 has also magnified existing disparities for low-income older adults, which underscores the need for funding and programming to be appropriately targeted to those with the greatest need. Ensuring nutrition and supportive services reach communities of color, including those with disproportionately high infection and death rates, is extremely important as we work to address COVID-19 related racial and ethnic disparities.
Many older adults remain unable to safely access congregate meals and engage in other social activities outside of the home during this time. We urge you build on Congress’ past support for senior meal delivery by including $1.1 billion in funding for OAA programs, including $750 million for OAA Nutrition Services, in the next COVID-19 relief bill for senior nutrition and other targeted efforts to address social isolation. We also urge you to prioritize sufficient supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needed for these services and testing for social services staff, health care workers, older adults, and their caregivers.
Sincerely,
Kirsten Gillibrand Susan M. Collins United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Robert P. Casey, Jr. /s/ Richard J. Durbin United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Kyrsten Sinema /s/ Tina Smith United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Margaret Wood Hassan /s/ Joe Manchin III United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Jeanne Shaheen /s/ Bernard Sanders United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Elizabeth Warren /s/ Jack Reed United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Richard Blumenthal /s/ Sherrod Brown United States Senator United States Senator
/s/ Jacky Rosen /s/ Angus S. King, Jr. United States Senator United States Senator